The benefits of living with purpose

business partner of 18 years plus colleagues within, even outside, our brokerage.

As I advance in years, my view of life has also been subtly changing.

Aging brings challenges, physical for sure, but also to our emotional well-being.

Health permitting, I don’t plan on retiring any time soon, but in the days/months/years

I have left have decided to focus more on work which appeals to me.

This entails sharing or transferring responsibilities for other aspects of my professional practice with my

Squeeze

In other words, letting go. Something very hard to do when you have a self-directed personality!

My goal is to put myself in a position to be able to concentrate energy on client engagements so I believe I can provide the most value.

This was not an overnight decision. In fact, I discussed it at length these past couple of years with several friends from different walks of life whose opinions I greatly value and who have gone down this path in their own careers.

They were able to lay out lessons from personal experience; plus offer guidance, cautions, and most of all, encouragement.

Each of them has invited me to keep checking back with them on what I am experiencing as they know I may need some help to navigate the course. Imagine getting life coaching at 67!

When I think about though, I realize 50 years of working in various careers has set the stage for this adventure.

So much of what I do in real estate, having represented close to 4,000 properties to date, is to help people develop a transition plan for their stage in life; everything from single-family homes, fish camps, apartment buildings, retail stores, lake cabins, acreages, farms, and even a house built with straw.

Often the most challenging is working with retiring farmers and business owners. They have spent a lifetime building a successful enterprise, often taking leadership over from another family member, and making it even stronger.

Our heritage deserves to be honoured but it should never keep us from making the right decision going forward.

Too many entrepre - neurs identify with the “title above the door” and don’t have an alternative objective in life defined.

It is heartwarming to see someone shift gears post-work by pursuing their passion or making new commitments using a skillset developed over a lifetime.

It can be woodworking, pottery, or simply volunteering where needed.

Don’t let life hold you back. Yes, you and I may stumble or take a wrong turn or two, but at least we are striding with purpose toward the future, not letting it pass us by.

Vern McClelland is an associate broker with RE/MAX of Lloydminster and an active partner in his family’s livestock operation. Comments on this article are welcome either by emailing vernmcclelland@remax.net or calling 306-821-0611.

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